Probably carrying Alpha Thalassaemia
Information for people:
Information for people:
- whose parents or earlier ancestors originate from South East Asia or the Mediterranean area
- Are North Europeans
- Do not know where their ancestors came from
A blood test has shown that you have smaller red blood cells than is usual. People can have small red blood cells because they are short of iron, or because they carry beta thalassaemia, or alpha thalassaemia. Your blood test shows that you are not short of iron, and that you do not carry typical beta thalassaemia. Therefore you almost certainly carry alpha thalassaemia.
What is alpha thalassaemia?
Alpha thalassaemia is one of a range of variations in the blood, that doctors call haemoglobin disorders. Carriers of alpha thalassaemia have smaller red blood cells, and a larger number of them, than other people.
- An alpha thalassaemia carrier is a healthy person.
- Carrying alpha thalassaemia does not weaken people physically or mentally.
- Carriers of alpha plus thalassaemia can eat what they want, and do any kind of work they choose.
- They do not need any medical treatment because they carry alpha thalassaemia.
A carrier has inherited alpha thalassaemia from their parents, and could pass it on to their children. This is why they are called a 'carrier' of alpha thalassaemia. Carrying alpha thalassaemia is extremely common. About 1 in 15 people who originate from South East Asia and 1in 4 people who originate from Mediterranean areas such as Cyprus carry alpha thalassaemia.
Can carrying alpha thalassaemia cause any health problems?
Carrying alpha thalassaemia does not cause any health problems. However, if a blood test taken for another reason shows you have small red blood cells, a doctor who does not know you probably carry alpha thalassaemia could think you are short of iron. The doctor could prescribe iron medicines, and in the long run, this could do more harm than good. People who probably carry alpha thalassaemia need a special blood test (serum iron or serum ferritin measurement) to diagnose iron deficiency. They should take iron medicines only if this test shows they are short of iron.
Why is it important to know you probably carry alpha thalassaemia?
It could be important for the health of your children. Occasionally a person who "probably carries alpha thalassaemia" carries alpha zero thalassaemia, or a rare form of beta thalassaemia. Such people can sometimes have a child with a serious inherited anaemia. The risk is very small, but it is important to know about it because you can avoid it. A person who carries this type of thalassaemia can only have a child with an inherited anaemia if their partner also carries a haemoglobin disorder.
What should you do if you are thinking of having children?
Tell your partner that you probably carry alpha thalassaemia, and ask him or her to have a blood test ¡§for haemoglobin disorders¡¨. Ideally your partner should have this test before you start a pregnancy. Their general practitioner (GP) can arrange it. If your partner does not carry a haemoglobin disorder, you have the same chance of a healthy family as other couples do.
What should you do if your partner also carries a haemoglobin disorder?
Show this leaflet to your GP. Ask for an immediate appointment to discuss your situation with a local specialist counsellor. You should have a special "DNA test" to diagnose your exact type of thalassaemia. This is particularly important if you have already started a pregnancy. You can also contact the counselling service directly.
Is there anything else you should do?
If you already have children, or you have brothers or sisters, they may also carry alpha thalassaemia. Encourage them to ask their GP for a blood test for 'haemoglobin disorders'. You can get more information about carrying alpha thalassaemia from the counselling service.
Can carrying alpha thalassaemia cause any health problems?
Carrying alpha thalassaemia does not cause any health problems. However, if a blood test taken for another reason shows you have small red blood cells, a doctor who does not know you probably carry alpha thalassaemia could think you are short of iron. The doctor could prescribe iron medicines, and in the long run, this could do more harm than good. People who probably carry alpha thalassaemia need a special blood test (serum iron or serum ferritin measurement) to diagnose iron deficiency. They should take iron medicines only if this test shows they are short of iron.
Why is it important to know you probably carry alpha thalassaemia?
It could be important for the health of your children. Occasionally a person who "probably carries alpha thalassaemia" carries alpha zero thalassaemia, or a rare form of beta thalassaemia. Such people can sometimes have a child with a serious inherited anaemia. The risk is very small, but it is important to know about it because you can avoid it. A person who carries this type of thalassaemia can only have a child with an inherited anaemia if their partner also carries a haemoglobin disorder.
What should you do if you are thinking of having children?
Tell your partner that you probably carry alpha thalassaemia, and ask him or her to have a blood test ¡§for haemoglobin disorders¡¨. Ideally your partner should have this test before you start a pregnancy. Their general practitioner (GP) can arrange it. If your partner does not carry a haemoglobin disorder, you have the same chance of a healthy family as other couples do.
What should you do if your partner also carries a haemoglobin disorder?
Show this leaflet to your GP. Ask for an immediate appointment to discuss your situation with a local specialist counsellor. You should have a special "DNA test" to diagnose your exact type of thalassaemia. This is particularly important if you have already started a pregnancy. You can also contact the counselling service directly.
Is there anything else you should do?
If you already have children, or you have brothers or sisters, they may also carry alpha thalassaemia. Encourage them to ask their GP for a blood test for 'haemoglobin disorders'. You can get more information about carrying alpha thalassaemia from the counselling service.
